Speaking to the media after the match, the coach, who was appointed to replace Dunga in June, highlighted the role Barcelona striker Neymar plays in freeing up space for team-mates.

"The collective empowers the individual," he said.

"If the ball arrives to Neymar, they mark [him], but the other side is more exposed. Coutinho creates chances. Enter Fagner, enter Paulinho. We take Neymar to one side, let him be isolated and make room for another. If they mark two, somewhere there are going to be people free.

Brazil have struggled to live up to expectations on the big stage since their triumph at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and Korea, going out in the quarter-finals in 2006 and 2010, before suffering the humiliation of a 7-1 defeat to eventual winners Germany in the semi-finals on home soil in 2014.

Asked if this squad is capable of improving on the near misses suffered by their recent predecessors, Tite replied: "First, I understand your question, but I cannot make comparisons with previous situations.